PDip Cellular Manufacturing and Therapy

Cell and gene therapy was identified as the most exciting therapeutic innovation by 79% of the 151 international biopharmaceutical manufacturers surveyed by the NIBRT, the Irish National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (Trends in Manufacturing Report). The same organizations have difficulty filling available positions, specifically citing the need to hire bioprocess engineers and automation engineers
The primary objectives of the MSc in Cellular Manufacturing & Therapy at the University of Galway is to A) provide formal training in cellular bioprocessing for clinical application and B) cultivating a rigorous scientific underpinning for the development of a cellular therapy. The course curriculum balances the scientific aspects of cellular therapy (in 3 modules), bioprocessing and manufacturing regulation (in 2 modules) and offers optional modules in cancer biology, business, clinical trials and bio-ethics. A student's practical skills are developed beyond the classroom laboratory activities with supplemental activities such as workshops in sterile gowning and a 4-month work or laboratory placement, thereby gaining research or enterprise-centric skills. When launching, this MSc programme was the first of its kind worldwide.
Modules in the biology underpinning the therapeutic application of mesenchymal stromal cells, immunotherapy and induced pluripotent stem cells, three types of cellular therapy currently in translation for clinical application.
Instruction by a multidisciplinary team of experts, the first to translate cellular therapies from the bench to clinical application in Ireland.
Four-month placement where student are embedded in a host environment corresponding to their carer of choice.

Potential employers are seeking graduates of this course to fill gaps in their current staffing. To that end, students enrolled in the MSc programme will complete a 4-month long dissertation project that will enable them to develop technical and transferrable skills while networking within a successful organization. Historically, our students were placed in organizations such as the Centre for Cellular Manufacturing Ireland, Galway Blood and Tissue Establishment, Charles River, Stempeutics, Avectas, Cancer Trials Ireland, Regeneron, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Aerogen, Hebei Medical University, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Hi-Tech Health and Valitacell.

Students must have completed one of the following with a minimum of 2nd class honours (or equivalant):
An undergraduate degree in medicine, pharmacy, manufacturing, biology, engineering.
An equivalent biomedical science-related undergraduate degree.
Applicants from non-biomedical science related backgrounds will be considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the coordinators.
Students who have a degree without Honours in a related area and have 3+ years of practical experience in the subject area will also be considered for this programme.

For applicants where English is a second language, we will adhere to University of Galway guidelines of requiring IELTS scores of 6.5, TOEFL scores of 88, and/or Pearson PTE scores of 61 with no less than 6.5 in any component.

Initially a shortlisting procedure will be applied to prioritise applicants. Those who do not meet the primary entry criteria as described above will be declined entry into the programme. The remaining applicants will be reviewed in closer detail. Significant weight will be placed on:

A) the applicant's essay describing their motivation for applying for this course and their career aspirations following the successful completion of the MSc,
B) the applicant's previous academic performance.
An interview may be conducted.